1
a
: a membrane or sac enclosing a body part (such as a knee joint or kidney)
b
: either of two layers of white matter in the cerebrum
2
: a closed receptacle containing spores or seeds: such as
a
: a dry dehiscent usually many-seeded fruit composed of two or more carpels
b
: the spore case of a moss
3
: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (such as a drug or vitamins)
also
: a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents
4
: an often polysaccharide envelope surrounding a microorganism
6
a
: a compact often sealed and detachable container or compartment
b
: a small pressurized compartment or vehicle (as for space flight)
capsuled; capsuling
1
: to equip with or enclose in a capsule
2
: to condense into or devise in a compact form
capsuled the news
1
: extremely brief
a capsule biography
2
: small and very compact
a capsule submarine
Synonyms
Examples of capsule in a Sentence
Noun
took an antibiotic capsule three times a day for a week
a capsule containing all sorts of items from our era that is to be opened 100 years from now
Verb
newscasts that capsule complex, important stories into one-minute bits for easy digestion by viewers
Adjective
capsule reviews of the latest offerings at the multiplex
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
Made in 1962, the same year Andy Warhol had his solo gallery debut in L.A. with paintings of cans of Campbell’s soup, Ruscha’s supermarket can followed John Glenn’s inaugural Earth orbit in a compact space capsule.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
In it, a newborn baby boy is nestled into a space capsule by his father who then sets the vessel's destination to Earth.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
It can be crushed up into a powder, turned into a small capsule, or made into a clear liquid.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Additionally, the six-piece capsule was inspired by the power and individuality of the brand’s signature pieces, hence the go-to lace and neutral colors.
—Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
How to use it The easiest way to benefit from milk thistle is to take a supplement in either capsule or tablet form, twice a day or as advised by your doctor.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2024
The debut capsule collection will be released in full on April 12.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
Nespresso benefits from a strong market share in the coffee capsule market and undeniably high brand awareness and reputation.
—Clara Ludmir, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
Building the perfect travel capsule wardrobe takes a lot of thoughtful consideration.
—Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
Ahead of Coachella, the THR Power Stylist has teamed with 8 Other Reasons for a capsule collection of under-$100 jewelry — and don’t be surprised if his first-time festival performer Sabrina Carpenter (and Bolden client) shows up onstage in his pieces.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Made from leaves of the kratom tree, which is native to southeast Asia, kratom is available in capsule form or powder that can be mixed with tea or taken on its own.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024
Things To Consider An important note is that this product could take up to 12 to 72 hours to work, and similar to other pill or capsule forms needs to be taken with adequate fluids.
—Suzanne Finkel, Verywell Health, 25 Mar. 2024
What is sea moss good for? Sea moss is a type of seaweed that's often used as a supplement in gel, liquid, capsule or gummy forms.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Don’t Be Seduced By The Ease Of Technology In the 1990s, NASA shuttered the Apollo program, storing the rocket, capsule and lunar module plans on microfiche and two paper copies, each irreparably damaged within a short time.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Share secret notes of affection with cute capsule messages in a bottle, encapsulating your love in tiny, treasured scrolls.
—Kristi Arnold, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
His father places him in a space capsule and sends him away just before his home planet explodes.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
Made in 1962, the same year Andy Warhol had his solo gallery debut in L.A. with paintings of cans of Campbell’s soup, Ruscha’s supermarket can followed John Glenn’s inaugural Earth orbit in a compact space capsule.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
In it, a newborn baby boy is nestled into a space capsule by his father who then sets the vessel's destination to Earth.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
It can be crushed up into a powder, turned into a small capsule, or made into a clear liquid.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Additionally, the six-piece capsule was inspired by the power and individuality of the brand’s signature pieces, hence the go-to lace and neutral colors.
—Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
How to use it The easiest way to benefit from milk thistle is to take a supplement in either capsule or tablet form, twice a day or as advised by your doctor.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2024
The debut capsule collection will be released in full on April 12.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
Nespresso benefits from a strong market share in the coffee capsule market and undeniably high brand awareness and reputation.
—Clara Ludmir, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The capsule collection includes four dresses and three trousers knit brown, black and white mesh polka dot, burgundy mesh, and gray plaid with the Ganni butterfly motif charm.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
Building the perfect travel capsule wardrobe takes a lot of thoughtful consideration.
—Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
Ahead of Coachella, the THR Power Stylist has teamed with 8 Other Reasons for a capsule collection of under-$100 jewelry — and don’t be surprised if his first-time festival performer Sabrina Carpenter (and Bolden client) shows up onstage in his pieces.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Made from leaves of the kratom tree, which is native to southeast Asia, kratom is available in capsule form or powder that can be mixed with tea or taken on its own.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024
Things To Consider An important note is that this product could take up to 12 to 72 hours to work, and similar to other pill or capsule forms needs to be taken with adequate fluids.
—Suzanne Finkel, Verywell Health, 25 Mar. 2024
What is sea moss good for? Sea moss is a type of seaweed that's often used as a supplement in gel, liquid, capsule or gummy forms.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Don’t Be Seduced By The Ease Of Technology In the 1990s, NASA shuttered the Apollo program, storing the rocket, capsule and lunar module plans on microfiche and two paper copies, each irreparably damaged within a short time.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Share secret notes of affection with cute capsule messages in a bottle, encapsulating your love in tiny, treasured scrolls.
—Kristi Arnold, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'capsule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near capsule
Cite this Entry
“Capsule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capsule. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
capsule
1 of 2 noun
cap·sule
ˈkap-səl 
-(ˌ)sül
1
: a surrounding cover of a bodily part (as a knee joint)
2
: a case bearing spores or seeds
3
: a shell usually of gelatin that is used for packaging something (as a drug)
also
: such a shell together with its contents
4
: an envelope of carbohydrate around a microbe and especially a bacterium
5
: a small compartment with nearly normal atmospheric pressure for a pilot or astronaut
especially
: spacecraft
capsule
2 of 2 adjective
: very brief
capsule movie reviews
Medical Definition
capsule
noun
cap·sule
ˈkap-səl, -(ˌ)sül
1
a
: a membrane or saclike structure enclosing a part or organ
the capsule of the kidney
b
: either of two layers or laminae of white matter in the cerebrum:
(1)
: a layer that consists largely of fibers passing to and from the cerebral cortex and that lies internal to the lentiform nucleus
called also internal capsule
(2)
: one that lies between the lentiform nucleus and the claustrum
called also external capsule
2
: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins)
also
: a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents
3
: a viscous or gelatinous often polysaccharide envelope surrounding certain microscopic organisms (as the pneumococcus)
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